My Dad is the greatest man I will ever know. I’m sure nearly all of you feel the same way about your fathers, but this is my ride report (without a “ride” I might add) so I’m going to tell it like I see it. My 80-year-old father knows more things about more things than anyone I’ve ever met. He is so well read on such a variety of topics, and well traveled on the ways of the world. Sometimes just to mess with him, I start a conversation about the most mundane and obscure topic I can think of. I’ll “wiki” the subject before hand and see if I can skunk him. It rarely works and when I share my gig with him, we laugh about it.
But the part of my Dad that I like most is his heart and soul. He is a truly happy man and always sees the good in everyone. He’s selfless, empathetic, and humble beyond my finest words. Some of you have met my Dad, and I get welled up with pride when I hear you tell me how much you like him, as I do. He doesn’t get worked up in his disappointment, and most honestly, even at his age, he rarely ask me for anything.
My father has had a thing for old trains his whole life. Truthfully, he likes anything mechanical and the old trains are as mechanical as they come. He had model trains as a kid and I had them too – we’d set it up and build (relatively) elaborate displays for our enjoyment. Every chance he gets, he’s checking out old trains in bone yards or on display. He studies it like a fine wine, savoring every piece of it and marveling at its design and workmanship.
Some time ago, I learned about the 4014 Tour of the Union Pacific Big Boy Steam Locomotive:
https://www.up.com/heritage/steam/schedule/index.htm
As soon as I realized that this was the LARGEST steam powered locomotive ever made, and it was RUNNING through our neck of the woods, I knew this was something Dad and I had to see. I sent the information to him via email, and in 15 minutes, he replied with excitement and joy. Of course he was aware of this locomotive from back in the day, but didn’t realize that one had been restored and was running through the country. We made plans back then to check this out.
My work is cranking up getting ready for a new semester and getting ready for a LOT of COVID sickness. We’re running around like headless chickens. The State and Federal Govt are pressing us to run operations on our campus and it’s a lot of moving parts. Earlier in the week, a SNAFU erupted, and I feared that my train date with my dad was in serious jeopardy. I got really sad about it. I knew that if I called my dad and told him I had to cancel, despite his own disappointment, he’d just reply with “that’s OK, son” and let it go. Even though, I just couldn’t do it. I mean, how many more chances am I gonna get to do these kinds of things with him? When I retire (soon), work is going to have to figure it out without me, so they might as well get started. I took a deep breath and called a key colleague:
(Pants) “I’m sure this is going to sting a little, but I’m off tomorrow. I’ve had plans with my 80 year old Dad for months now, and I’m not cancelling them.”
(Colleague) “We’ll manage. Where ya going?”
(Pants) “I’m taking the old man to chase a big boy.”
We drove out west about an hour to Kinder, LA. My dad is a shutter bug and on the way, he shared what he hoped to do today. He said he wanted to get some pictures of the train approaching the stop. And then he hoped we could get out ahead of it and setup somewhere so he could shoot it as it rolled by. I know this area like the back of my hand from countless motorcycle trips, so it was no problem planning this one out on the fly.
We arrived early enough to grab some lunch and then scope out the area.
That’s my Dad in the blue shirt checking out the scene.
I did some “railroad combing” and found some cool stuff.
Right on time, I start to hear the whistle in the distance. He comes around the bend and it was something to see.
He stops right there in front of me, and holy cow, this thing is a beast!!
Do you know what those smaller numbers mean? I do.
The workers were lubricating these massive bearings at the stop. The grease gun operates on steam from the locomotive.
What a beautiful piece of machinery.
Pretty decent crowd for a map dot city on a Thursday in 95-degree heat.
Everything is pristinely restored to like new condition.
You don’t just set the cruise control or auto pilot on this thing.
I made sure that we parked a good bit up road from the scene so that we could get out early to chase the train. I asked my dad if he had enough pictures of the stop and he replied affirmative. So we loaded up and I hit Hwy 190 heading East. I knew that was where the train was heading and I wanted to scout out a nice place close to the road where we might catch it moving. As I’m running, all along the road are people tailgating and waiting to see the train. I had no idea this thing would generate so much interest.
I get to the town of Elton, and I find a nice place to pull over. I’m watching the “spot” for the train on the website and it looks like we’ve got 10-ish minutes to set up. My dad doing his thing.
Sure enough, in about 10 minutes, he comes roaring along. Watch the expression on my Dad’s face at the end of this video. That was a highlight of my day.
I told my Dad that I had an idea, but we have to hurry. So we pitched his camera equipment in his Jeep and I took the wheel, while dad sat in the back seat. And with that, the chase was on!!
I knew the track separated from the road for a while, but after the town of Eunice, it rejoined the road. So I boogied as quick as safely possible and just East of Eunice, with the track in plain site, I pulled over on the shoulder and told my dad to get the camera ready.
Sizing up the light
Here he comes, point and shoot!!
As soon as the Big Boy passes, I merge onto the highway and stomp it. I knew this stretch of road would offer opportunities and I was right. It didn’t take me long to catch him, and for about 15 miles, we had great fun running side by side.
That steam whistle was so cool. I was amazed at how “tight” the locomotive sounded. Didn’t hear a squeak, rattle, knock, pink …. Nothing. With no load and no grade to climb, 40-45 mph was a piece of cake for the Big Boy.
Every once in a while, I look in the rear-view mirror, and the old man is grinning ear to ear.
We get close to Lawtell and I can see the track separating again. I told my Dad that I thought it would get busy and wondered if he got some good shots. Imagine my surprise when he told me that he’d taken over 500 pictures!!! Later last night he texted that in actuality, he took almost 1000!!! After he’s sifted through them, and did some professional photo-shopping to his favorites, that will surely be something to see.
So we broke off the highway and headed home, chatting about the power of that train and what it did for our growing country.
That’s all for now. Tomorrow, we travel to New Orleans, where we will get an opportunity to climb aboard the Big Boy and learn more about him. I’ll throw up a few pictures of that later.
I can already tell it’s gonna be epic.
Feel free to join up, you are a mere 100 miles from being a Texan anyway. 
Heck, you can pop over for some Pie Runs.
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